Qua sách Công Vụ Tông đồ, chúng ta thấy các Tông đồ đã quá sợ hãi, và trốn kín trong căn phòng trên lầu mà các cửa đã được khóa kín, họ run sợ những người do thái lùng bắt họ mỗi khi nghe những bước chân đi bên ngoài. Nhưng sau lễ Ngũ Tuần, Họ đã được biến đổi, và bây giờ họ đã ngang nhiên họ cười vào mặt những kẻ bắt nạt họ cho dù cái chết đang đe dọa trước mắt. Sau khi họ bị kéo lê tới trước mặt những nhà chức trách, thầy thượng tế, họ đã được cảnh cáo là phải im miệng và không được rao giảng về Chúa Giêsu đã sống lại nữa, nhưng họ đã phản ứng ngược lại và trả lời rất cứng rắn:” bất cứ điều gì Chúa muốn, chúng tôi làm, và Thiên Chúa muốn chúng tôi phải tiếp tục việc rao giảng của chúng tôi”.
Đôi khi chúng ta có thể bị choáng ngợp với sự sợ hãi, nhưng với ơn thiêng liêng của Chúa Thánh Thần ở trong chúng ta, chúng ta có thể làm bất cứ điều gì và tuân theo thánh ý của Thiên Chúa chính là sức mạnh và niềm vui của chúng ta. Bằng những nỗ lực riêng của mỗi người, chúng ta có thể làm được những việc tối thiểu; nhưng nếu chúng ta biết dựa vào ân sủng của Thiên Chúa, chúng ta có thể làm được bất cứ những gì chúng ta muốn làm theo ý Chúa. Thế giới hôm nay đang cần những chứng nhân biết vui tươi và can đảm. Lạy Chúa, xin ban cho chúng con sự can đảm không bao giờ cạn.
Saturday of Easter Week Sat 2nd April 2016
The apostles had been broken and terrified men. They cowered behind locked doors, listening in dread for the footsteps of their persecutors. But after Pentecost, it was a different story. They were transformed, and they laughed in the face of bullying and death threats. After being dragged before the authorities, they were warned to keep their mouths shut and not proclaim the risen Jesus again. Their response was simple: whatever God wants, we do, and God wants us to continue our proclamation. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed with fear, but with God’s spirit within us, we can do anything. Strength and joy come from doing the right thing and obeying the will of God.
The original shorter ending of Mark ended abruptly with the women running away and telling no one what they had seen, for they were terrified. It took the appearance of the Lord and his missioning speech to change their hearts and minds. Again, fear was powerful, but God can overcome all and make weak people into courageous witnesses for the faith. Alone and by our own efforts we can do little; with the Lord’s grace, we can do just about anything. The world needs joyful and courageous witnesses.
Lord, grant me unfailing courage.
Saturday of Easter Week
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. Mark 16:9
The first person recorded in Scripture to whom Jesus appeared was Mary Magdalene. Notably, she was the one out of whom Jesus cast seven demons. Being possessed by seven demons has traditionally been understood to mean that she was completely possessed. Prior to Jesus freeing her, satan and His demons had completely taken over her will by her free submission to evil. And yet, it was to her, a woman with such a horrible past, that Jesus chose to give the honor of His first appearance. What an amazing fact!
Everyone has a past. Some have been grave sinners. Others, like Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, have never committed a mortal sin. Obviously, the beauty of a soul like Saint Thérèse is deeply admirable, and such a soul will be greatly rewarded in Heaven. But what about the grave sinner? What about those like Mary Magdalene who have lived horribly sinful lives? What does our Lord think about them?
The fact that Mary Magdalene is the first person recorded in Scripture to have seen the risen Lord should tell us much about how Jesus views a person who has greatly struggled with serious sin but has later overcome that sin and turned wholeheartedly to our Lord. Sin is demoralizing. When unrepented, it leaves a loss of dignity and integrity. However, even after one has repented, some people will continue to struggle with unhealthy guilt and shame. And for some, these struggles can become a weapon by which the evil one tries to discourage them from feeling worthy to serve our Lord with zeal and passion.
But the truth in the mind of God is that repentant sinners are true jewels and beautiful in the eyes of our Lord. They are worthy of the greatest honors. God does not dwell on our past sin. Instead, our past sin, when it has been repented of and forgiven, will be an eternal sign of the love and mercy of God.
How do you deal with your past sin? First, have you completely acknowledged it, repented of it and sought forgiveness from our Lord? If so, does it still haunt you? Does the evil one still try to remind you of your past and strip away your hope in the mercy of God?
Reflect, today, upon the most grievous of your past sins. If you haven’t yet confessed them, then do so as soon as you can. If you have, try to see your soul through the eyes of God. God does not see your past sins with anger and disgust. Rather, He sees only the depth of your conversion, sorrow and repentance. And, to Him, this is holy and beautiful. Ponder the beauty of your repentant heart and know that, as you do, you will be looking at your own heart through the eyes of God.
My most merciful God, You love the sinner and hate the sin. You love me in ways that are beyond my understanding. Help me to understand how deeply You love my heart when I completely repent. And help me to see my heart only through Your eyes. I thank You for Your love and mercy, dear Lord. Help me to love You all the more. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday of Easter Week 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I rejoice today as I contemplate the great things you have done. I want to proclaim the joy of the Resurrection to every creature. The mystery of your Son’s Resurrection is the great sign that fills me with hope for eternal life with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. They did not believe Mary Magdalene: A dominant theme in Mark’s account of the Resurrection of Jesus is not belief, but unbelief. Mark tells us that Mary of Magdala received the first appearance of the risen Jesus. But Mark doesn’t focus on their encounter or what was said between them. He focuses, rather, on the fact that when she told Jesus’ companions that he was alive and that she saw him, they did not believe her. This unbelief of the disciples fits with Mark’s account of Jesus’ passion which emphasizes how the disciples abandoned Jesus.
2. They did not believe the Two: When Mark summarizes the account of the two disciples who encountered the risen Jesus on the way to Emmaus, he doesn’t detail how Jesus explained the scriptures or how Jesus was recognized in the breaking of bread. Mark emphasizes that the companions of Jesus – his disciples – did not believe Cleopas and the other disciple – possibly, Mary, the wife of Cleopas.
3. Jesus rebuked the Eleven for their Unbelief: When Jesus appeared to the Eleven Apostles while they were at table for the evening meal, he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart. From the other Gospels, we know that Peter and John saw the empty tomb and told the others. The eleven all heard the witness of Mary of Magdala. The eleven heard the witness of the two disciples who walked with the risen Jesus for several hours. And yet they struggled to believe. Why does the Gospel of Mark emphasize this? If we remember that Mark’s Gospel was written for Gentiles in the Roman Empire almost thirty years after Jesus died and rose from the dead, we see that Mark wants to emphasize how faith in the risen Jesus was difficult even for Jesus’ eleven apostles. If they struggled to believe without seeing, it is understandable that we would too. We don’t want to hear the rebuke of Jesus. Centuries have passed, and we are called to believe those who saw the risen Jesus. The Gospel of Mark doesn’t end with the rebuke, but with the commission: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you rebuked your disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart. Help me to overcome my own unbelief and stubbornness and fully embrace the new life of your resurrection.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bảy Tuần Tuần Bát Nhật Phục Sinh (Act” 4:13-21 ; Mk. 16:9-1)
Trong một thời gian , sự sợ hãi và nghi ngờ ngăn cản những người theo Chúa Giêsu rao giảng Tin Mừng . Họ chỉ không thể tin được rằng Ngài còn sống. Sự phục sinh đã được không những chỉ là việc khó tin từ thở đó cũng cho tới bây giờ . Nhưng sau này họ đã có bằng chứng rõ ràng của họ đó là: Chúa Giêsu. Và đó là chìa khóa; chúng ta không thể thuyết phục bất cứ ai về sự phục sinh , trừ khi đó là điều hiển nhiên trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu nói với họ hãy đi và loan báo tin mừng cho tất cả các tạo vật; và điều đó không có nghĩa là bằng lời nói, nhưng bằng tất cả những hành động và thái độ thường ngày của chúng ta phải đi xa hơn lời nói của chúng ta Chúng ta phải trở thành những người làm bằng chứng sống cho Chúa Phục Sinh mà chúng ta đã ta công bố . Lạy Chúa, xin đổ đầy trái tim của chúng con với niềm vui của Chúa Phục Sinh.
Sat 26th April 2014 Saturday within Acts 4:13-21; Mk. 16:9-15
Fear is often used to control people and to prevent them from speaking the truth. Fear is a very powerful weapon. The authorities threatened Peter and the apostles and ordered them to keep silent about Jesus and about the healing that had been done in his name. At this point they could have all retired to a quiet and peaceful life — but that would not even have been a life! They could not keep silent — the joy and wonder in them just could not be contained. When we are truly obeying God — a power far superior to any earthly power — we lose our fear and are filled with courage and wisdom.
For a while, fear and doubt prevented the followers of Jesus from proclaiming the Good News. They just could not believe that he was alive. The resurrection was just as difficult to believe then as it is now. But then they had their proof: Jesus himself. And that is the key - we cannot convince anyone of the resurrection unless it is evident in our own lives. Jesus told them to go out and give the joyful news to all creation — and that doesn't necessarily mean by words. Actions and attitudes are often far more eloquent and convincing than words. We must become the living proof for the Risen Lord we proclaim.
Lord, fill my heart with the joy of the Risen Lord.
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